What is a Closed Economy?

A closed economy is a type of economy that produces all consumers needs without importing or exporting any goods and services inside or outside the country. This type of economy is self-sufficient and independent. It has no trading activity outside the country's borders.in a closed economy, consumers are required to consume domestic products without any expectation of import of goods from foreign countries.

Why are Closed Economies Difficult?

A closed economy is difficult to sustain because many countries lack raw materials essential for finished products. Raw materials are natural resources provided to few countries, maintaining a closed economy in this modern society will be difficult. Modern or Liberal economic theory strongly supports countries taking advantage of comparative advantage and trades between countries, this makes the theory opposed to a closed economy. Companies and individuals can make more money or accumulate wealth by focussing on labor and efficiently directing resources to their most productive and efficient operations.

The Proliferation of Open Trade

With the recent advent of technology and countries advancing in modernization, economies are steering towards being open to international trade. For example, petroleum is traded globally, and this one of the raw materials globally requested. Countries without these raw materials are always in constant demand for it. The United States which is one of the largest producers of oil in the world imports approximately 10.4 million barrels daily as of 2017. They trade with other countries like Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Iraq. Also to note, according to World'sTopExport.com," a research firm estimated and accounted that the five biggest crude oil exporterstotaled approximately USD $841.1 billion worth of exports. With Saudi Arabia at $133.6billion, Russia at $93.3billion, Iraq at $61.5billion, Canada at $54 billion and the United Arab Emirates at $49.3billion. These statistics marked the high demand accompanied by crude oil in 2017.

Why Close Off an Economy?

The fear of depending only on imports and the inability to compete at international trades makes countries close off their economy. Domestic producers or enterprises fear the risk of low international prices which will, in turn, affect their profit or result in a loss for them. Countries don't mostly practice close economies, however, a country may stop an industry from international trade. For example, some oil-producing countries have stopped trading with other foreign countries.

Real World Example of a Closed Economy

Brazil can be closely associated with a closed economy because they import a reduced amount of goods. And, it is the world's most closed economy. Brazil's largest and efficient companies with pertinent economies of scale can actually export goods as companies have difficulty in terms of competitiveness, including exchange rate appreciation and defensive trade policies.

Related Topics

• Trade Balance: Surplus and Deficit
• Mercantilism
• J Curve
• National Trade Data Bank
• Capital Account (Economics)
• Merchandise Trade Balance
• Current Account 
• Income Payments
• Unilateral Transfer
• Is it better to have a trade surplus or a trade deficit? 
• Export of Goods and Services and Percentage of GDP
• Heckscher-Ohlin Model 
• Linder Hypothesis
• The Balance of Trade as a Balance of Payments
• National Savings and Investment Identity
• Circular Flow of Money
• Financial Capital
• Supply and Demand Sides for Financial Capital? 
• Flow of Capital
• Domestic Saving and Investment Determine the Trade Balance
• National Savings Identity and Trade Deficits
• How the Business Cycle Affects Trade Balances
• Trade Balance or Trade Surplus
• Level of Trade
• Comparative Advantage
• Absolute Advantage
• Specialization and Gain from Trade
• Absolute Advantage in All Goods
• Production Possibilities Frontier and Comparative Advantage
• Comparative Advantage and Mutually Beneficial Trade
• Gain from Trade
• Opportunity Costs and International Trade
• Intra-Industry Trade
• Splitting Up the Value Chain
• How Economies of Scale Lead to Trading Advantages
• Protectionism
• Closed Economy
• Tariffs 
• Double Column Tariff
• Import Quotas
• Double Column Tariff
• Infant Industry Theory
• National Interest Argument
• Race to the Bottom
• Anti-Dumping Laws
• Dumping
• Trade War
• Race to the Bottom
• Non-Tariff Barriers
• Effects of Trade Barriers
• Who Is Benefited and Who is Harmed by Protectionism?
• Infant Industry Theory for Restricting Imports
• What is the Anti-Dumping Argument for Restricting Imports?

• Anti-Dumping Laws
• Dumping

• What is the Environmental Protection Argument for Restricting Imports?
• Race to the Bottom
• Unsafe Consumer Products Argument for Restricting Imports?
• National Interest Argument for Restricting Imports
• What is the WTO?
• What is the GATT?
• What are Free Trade Agreements?
• North American Free Trade Agreement
• Central European Free Trade Agreement
• General Agreement on Free Tariff and Trade (GATT)
• Common Market
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
• Central American Common Market
• Caribbean Community and Common Market
• What are Economic Unions?
• WTO
• International Monetary Fund
• World Economic Forum
• Inter-American Development Bank
• Davos World Economic Forum 
• Chamber of Commerce
• Jackson Hole Economic Symposium